ornithine
an amino acid, H2N(CH2)3CH(NH2)COOH, obtained by the hydrolysis of arginine and occurring as an intermediate compound in the urea cycle of mammals.
Origin of ornithine
1Words Nearby ornithine
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for ornithine
/ (ˈɔːnɪˌθiːn) /
an amino acid produced from arginine by hydrolysis: involved in the formation of urea in the liver; diaminopentanoic acid. Formula: NH 2 (CH 2) 3 CHNH 2 COOH
Origin of ornithine
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for ornithine
[ ôr′nə-thēn′ ]
An amino acid not found in proteins, formed by hydrolyzing arginine and important in the formation of urea. Chemical formula: C5H12N2O2.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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